Hoyer Hails House Passage of COPS Improvement Act

Washington, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (Md.) applauded House passage today of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Improvements Act. The bill bolsters the successful COPS program, authorizing $1.8 billion a year over the next five years to help improve community policing efforts and place an additional 50,000 police officers on the street nationwide.

“Since its creation in 1994, the COPS program has seen great success across the country, allowing officers to spend more time on the streets fighting and preventing crime through time-saving technology, information-sharing systems, and improved communications equipment.

“Under the previous Administration, cuts to COPS significantly impaired this effort, hampering the ability of law enforcement agencies to hire additional officers and invest in the community policing programs that have proven to be so successful. Now, during a time of recession, enforcement agencies are being hit again – operating under smaller budgets at the same time they must address the rise in certain types of crime brought on by increased foreclosures and other economic stresses.

“The COPS Improvements Act renews our commitment to helping law enforcement address these challenges, providing the tools it needs to combat crime and ensure the safety of our communities. I am pleased that this bill has passed the House, and look forward to its consideration in the Senate.”